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Butterfield among cream of crop in league
A 22-year-old University of the Sunshine Coast Sport and Exercise Science student has been selected for the Australian Universities Rugby League (AURL) team to tour England and France next month.
The tour from 20 November to 10 December will be another sporting highlight for Kippa-Ring’s Tommy Butterfield who plays hooker in the Redcliffe Dolphins’ Queensland Cup side.
A year ago Tommy was delighted to play in the Papua New Guinea side against the Australian Prime Minister’s 13 in Port Moresby. The Aussie team was captained to victory by Queensland State of Origin star Petero Civoniceva.
“It was a big buzz playing against the likes of Johnathan Thurston – and I scored a try,” Tommy said.
The former Redcliffe State High student said he nominated for the AURL team this year “for something different”. He had been awarded Queensland Players’ Player at the Australian Universities Interstate Shield in Sydney in May.
“I’m looking forward to the camaraderie and seeing the standard over there,” he said.
Tommy said he was enjoying his science degree at USC after working out how to juggle footy and study commitments.
“I like the subjects, the lifestyle up there and the teachers are really interesting people too,” he said.
He intends to use his University degree to work in sporting development while pursuing his goal of playing NRL.
“I was born in Papua New Guinea and league was our main sport. It was all I ever did on the streets, and I’d like to help other kids develop their skills.”
The AURL representative team is expected to play two matches in Paris, one in London and two in northern England.
Tommy also toured Europe in 2007 with the PNG national team.
– Julie Gatehouse